Search

The Korean government said Thursday (July 12) that it plans to invest 222.8 billion won ($241.9 million) over the next seven years to boost the country's technological knowledge in luxury cruise ships, flexible displays and micro robots

The money, provided to 21 projects, will be distributed to companies, universities and research centers, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said.

"The projects were picked from 432 submissions late last year.

They were chosen because of their impact on national competitiveness and beneficial effect on everyday life," said a ministry official.

Of the 21 projects, 13 will receive 2 billion won for the next five years, while eight will receive support until 2014.

The 13 projects include cruise ships, flexible displays, high-tech medical fiber, high intensity ultrasound and excavators, while the eight next-generation technologies make use of micro robots to cure patients and advanced stem cell research.

The injection of money is to build up the country's future growth engines so that the country's businesses can stay ahead of the pack and contribute to economic growth in the coming year.

Korea is a global leader in areas such as shipbuilding and displays, but competition from countries like China is making it necessary to move into more tech-oriented, value-added product areas.

State support of technology research does not conflict with World Trade Organization rules.

http://www.korea.net/news/news/newsView.asp?serial_no=20070712027&part=107&SearchDay=&page=1

New intellectual property measures launched in Viet Nam
The Department of Intellectual Properties on July 26 rolled out six new initiatives to encourage intellectual property promotion and protection within the country.

The new mechanisms have been designed to clamp down on violators of trademark protection laws and raise public awareness on the benefits and negative impacts of the misuse of intellectual protection.

The Truong Thanh Technological Investment and Development Company has been charged with implementing the “Trademark promotion” programme, the Trade University the “To establish and promote product brands” scheme, the Vietnam Fund in Support of Technological Innovations with a public awareness campaign entitled “Information campaigns on industrial property” and the Ministry of Science and Technology’s southern representative office has been handed the “To create a model of managing intellectual property operations” project.

The two remaining initiatives revolve around two of the country's most well known agricultural products. The Bac Giang lychee and Phu Tho's pomelo are set to benefit from trademark building as Science and Technology embark on an ambitious project to build and protect the fruit's unique brand.

The new schemes are part of a wider government effort to support intellectual property rights and enforcement for the 2005-2010 period.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/biz/2007/07/723216/
Chinese Government Supports Software Innovation

China will enhance government support for software innovations, with concerted efforts on developingChina’s proprietary generic, core and supportive software, said WANG Bingke, Deputy Director of Economic System Reform and Performance Department, part of the Ministry of Information Industry (MII), at a software outsourcing forum held on April 25, 2007. MII will provide more guidance for software innovations, and facilitate technology cooperation and innovation alliances in different forms, along with the implementation of key software projects, in an attempt to establish a proprietary technological innovation system headed by industry. Meanwhile, it will initiate a range of information security software related innovations and R&D.

According to predictions, China’s domestic software and information service marketplace will expect a sale volume exceeding RMB 1 trillion in 2010. Chinese made software and information service will take up a domestic share of 65% or above. Home made key generic software products and core technologies will see major breakthroughs, with a raised industrial value and scale.

http://www.most.gov.cn/eng/newsletters/2007/200704/t20070430_43506.htm

S&T Insurance Pilot Project in China
As a supporting policy for implementing the Outline for the National Long- and Medium-Term S&T Development Planning (2006-2020), the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and China Insurance Regulatory Committee (CIRC) will jointly stage S&T insurance pilot projects at national high tech parks, and in selected cities, in an attempt to promote the diffusion of S&T insurance.

The pilot projects will work on the following missions: 1) raise the insurance awareness of high-tech businesses, through government guidance and promotion, in an effort to set up S&T insurance examples; 2) provide insurance for technological innovation activities at high-tech businesses, using insurance means, and gather up experience, models, and cases for supporting industrial technological innovation using S&T insurance; 3) further develop insurance products tailored to the needs of high-tech businesses; and 4) collect S&T insurance data for verifying the scientific nature and rationality of S&T insurance policies.

Application for an S&T insurance shall go through the following procedures: 1) the government or administrative committee initiating an S&T insurance pilot project shall submit an application to S&T authorities at the provincial level; 2) S&T authorities at the provincial level shall review the application together with the local insurance regulatory bureau, before sending the application to MOST and CIRC. The areas proposed by the provinces or municipalities for S&T insurance shall not exceed two in number; 3) MOST and CIRC will evaluate application materials in a balanced manner, and choose the right candidate for S&T insurance; and 4) MOST and CIRC will sign a memorandum with the chosen candidates, to formally start the pilot project.

http://www.most.gov.cn/eng/newsletters/2007/200703/t20070330_42454.htm

India on The Track of Nano Mission
The Government of India has approved the launch of a mission on nano science and technology -- Nano Mission with an allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for five years. The Nano Mission has been structured in a fashion so as to achieve synergy between the national research efforts of various agencies in nano science and technology and launch new programmes in a concerted fashion.

The department of science and technology will be the nodal agency for implementing the Nano Mission. The Government's approval furthers the belief that nano technology is a knowledge-intensive and 'enabling technology' which is expected to influence a wide range of products and processes with far-reaching implications for national economy and development.

The Government has made it clear that capacity building in this upcoming area of research will be of utmost importance for the Nano Mission so that India emerges as a global knowledge hub in this field also. For this, research on fundamental aspects of nano science and training of large number of manpower will receive prime attention.

Equally importantly, the Nano Mission will strive for development of products and processes for national development, especially in areas of national relevance like safe drinking water, materials development, sensors development, drug delivery, etc. For this, it will forge linkages between educational and research institutions and industry and promote public-private partnerships.

http://www.efytimes.com/efytimes/fullnews.asp?edid=18702

Korea to enforce technology protection law
Korea will start enforcing this week a law banning unauthorized transfers of technology that could have an adverse impact on the economy and national defense, officials said Thursday (April 26).

The law, to go into effect on Saturday, calls for a newly created industrial technology protection committee to designate sensitive technologies and monitor their cross-border movements, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said.

Local companies and the government spend roughly 24 trillion won ($25.8 billion) each year on various research and development (R&D) projects. The government provides support to such sectors as semiconductors, display panels, autos, shipbuilding, steel, energy and defense.

Under the law, private companies, universities and laboratories that received state R&D funds will have to get authorization before they export technology.

Small and medium enterprises that do not have the resources to protect their technology could receive funds and security training from the government.

The ministry said the new law defines the illegal transfer of technology as a felony and allows the government to confiscate any profits from such transfers.

http://www.korea.net/news/news/newsView.asp?serial_no=20070426032&part=107&SearchDay=&page=2